18 Pride goes before destruction,And a haughty spirit before stumbling.

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Narcissists seem to frequently step into “holes” and stumble – constantly creating difficulties for themselves which result in their scrambling around in order to extricate themselves. There are several practical reasons for this:

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They pursue drastically unrealistic goals based on delusions of grandeur, destined to fail

They misread situations by overestimating how well they are doing in some aspect

They misuse people as tools in reaching their own goals. That misuse comes back on them

They overestimate their abilities

They fall into the traps that they set for others

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Proverbs 26:27

27 He who digs a pit will fall into it,And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.

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In addition to the above, the primary reason narcissists stumble is that God is actively opposed to them as one who has insolent pride.

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Proverbs 16:5

5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.

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James 4:6

6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

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1 Peter 5:5

5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

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There are two primary reasons why God actively opposes those who are proud:

While they may “get away with things” for awhile, He will ultimately not allow anyone to usurp His rightful place

Out of love, He constantly is working for them to become humble so that they will have the grace to ultimately know and enjoy Him. Their failures are designed by God to get their attention and draw them to Himself.

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One implication of the fact that God opposes the proud narcissists is that we don’t need to “get back” at narcissists for the evil that they do. God will take care of it. In fact, He said that vengeance is His turf not ours.

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Romans 12:19

19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

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Here are some additional verses on God opposing the proud

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Psalm 18:27 – For You save an afflicted people, But haughty eyes You abase.

Psalm 101:5 – Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy; No one who has a haughty look and an arrogant heart will I endure.

Psalm 138:6 – For though the Lord is exalted, Yet He regards the lowly, But the haughty He knows from afar.

Proverbs 16:18 – Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.

Proverbs 18:12 – Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, But humility goes before honor.

Proverbs 11:2 – When pride comes, then comes dishonor, But with the humble is wisdom.